It’s been more than 10 years since spotted lanternflies landed in Pennsylvania, likely arriving on goods shipped from their native home in Southeast Asia.
Since then, the invasive species has spread to at least 18 states, causing billions of dollars in agricultural damage. While spotted lanternfly sightings in the Philadelphia area have decreased over the last couple of years, a resurgence could occur soon.
There are more than 100,000 different species of insects housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Still, entomologist Greg Cowper says none of them have received more attention in recent years than the Lycorma delicatula, more commonly known as the spotted lanternfly…